i lwk rlly hate what i wrote here, mainly bcs ive changed drastically over the past 6? months idk 💔 but i also don’t wanna delete these bcs some ppl do like it somehow
hi! loved ur sixth member post. i was wondering if u could make a fic (doesn't have to connected to ur sixth member post if you don't feel like it !) where the members see her hanging out with people outside of work (like in a day off or whatever) and they feel really envious of how comfortable she is with friends and yk they get reminded of js how hard debuting was on her part bcsz she's quite literally the only girl ! (can be all romantic w/ the members if ure ok w it💗) thank you so muchhh have a good day 😊
tysm for the request! sorry it took me this long 💔
before requesting please read this! enjoy
Finally getting to relax after spending weeks with guy is like a gift from heaven. Fresh air and humor that’s not whatever is on TikTok.
When i’m hanging out with my friends and spot them in the distance, I can’t help but ask myself questions. Yet I do choose to ignore them and continue talking and laughing with my friends. Obviously, they didn’t know where I was going anyway.
“She’s really enjoying herself,” Juhoon speaks up. “That’s not surprising, finally getting to hang out with someone that’s not us,” James answers. Keonho is next; “We’re not that bad!” And at that Juhoon fake coughs. “It’s not about how bad we are, it’s just that she can’t spend time with us like with her friends,” James replies again. And before Keonho could say another word- Martin spoke up. “She just has to be able to be herself.”
“What if we make it clear she can hang out with her friends more often?” Seonghyeon pipes up. “That she knows she doesn’t have to hang out with us everytime she’s bored.”
And so it happened.
“Hey,” Martin looks up towards the door as i enter. “You don’t have to hang out with us you know?” I raise an eyebrow, confused to what he means when James swipes in. “What this giant loser is trying to say,” Martin shoves James’ shoulder at the playful insult. “if you’re bored you shouldn’t feel obligated to hang out with us.”
I nod and walks closer to the couch. “I like hanging out with you guys.. especially when we play a game and Keonho loses.” Keonho’s head snaps towards me. “Hey!” Seonghyeon laughs, “You’re a sore loser dude!” I smiles and sit down in the empty spot next to Juhoon. “You just started a war,” he mumbles, trying to hold back laughter.
author's note: this is my own opinion, if you disagree with something just.. don't read or complain about it? :)
all headcanons are under the cut!
shotaro
friends to lovers
shotaro is very passionate about everything he does, and also definitely about who he loves. he'd liked you for a long time but he never planned on confessing to you. if you weren't so oblivious you would've been able to sense it though, the way he always warms your hands when they're cold or how he always stops what he's doing whenever you need company. one day shotaro was finally ready to ask you out, he'd planned everything out perfectly. he took you to a field full of flowers. he was the happiest man that day when you kissed him after his confession.
eunseok
slow burn
eunseok knew you were in love with him. that sounds cocky, but it's true. you'd fallen in love from the first time you'd met him. he never talked to you about it though, as he wasn't sure if he was ready for the committment, he wanted to be sure you were the one. he started asking you out more, to figure out his own feelings, and one day he finally knew he was ready to ask you out. you were clueless, he'd just asked to come over to his place and to "not be surprised". when you knocked on the door he opened it and kissed your lips. "be mine?"
sungchan
brother's best friend
you saw sungchan quite often, but you'd never actually spent time together. one day your brother asked you if you wanted to come with him and sungchan to a new amusement park. of course you immediately said yes. the time you spent together was amazing, and you did notice him staring at you a few times. when your brother left to get some food, sungchan pulled you aside and asked you out. you didn't know what to say and just nodded. from that moment on you started going out together more often. let's just hope your brother takes the news well..
wonbin
fake dating
wonbin was the last person you expected to ask you this. "please help me out, can you pretend to date me for.. a few days?" he asked you. 'my ex has has started to haunt me and i need a way to get out of this.' you doubted for a while, really, but you couldn't resist him, so you decided to give it a go. the first days it was alright because you'd never encountered his ex, if it weren't on the phone. but one day you met her, wonbin started panicking, but because of all the things you'd gone through with him, you actually fell in love with him. your first reaction was to kiss him. you confessed to him later that day.
sohee
idiots in love
you and sohee had known each other for a while. you'd also both liked each other a while, but you didn't know it from each other. sohee tried everything to let you know and you'd also given him hints but you were both so busy thinking about how to tell one another that you just never noticed. one day you were talking to your friend about him, which didn't happen a lot, and the first thing they said was 'dummy, sohee is madly in love with you.' you couldn't believe what she said and immediately sent him a message asking about it. asking him out over text was a bit lame but you were both so happy.
anton
high school au
anton's the type of guy who constantly spends time in the band classroom even though he's not even in the band. you, on the other hand, are, so you often spend your time there. you'd never seen him until one day, you were about to enter the room as you heard the beautiful sound of someone playing the cello, so of course you entered. you'd never seen a man that beautiful before. you started spending more time together after that and eventually.. you (yes, actually you) decided to ask him out. the soft "yes" he replied with sent butterflies through your stomach.
Hiiii,, I came across your sixth member cortis post and I liked it! I just wanted to point out that the gyro drop height thing is very inaccurate tho because 190cm and 1.9 metre are in fact 6 feet and 2 inches, which is like Martin’s height 💀 70 metres is probably what you meant to write instead
idk feet and inches- i work with the metric system. it was just a tiny mistake + i’m very bad at reading numbers tyvm 🖤
where you spend a wonderful winter day with your boyfriend
pairing: park wonbin x gn!reader
genre: fluff
word count: 860
it was a beautiful winter day; the snow had painted everything white: houses, streets ... you could hear the laughter of children playing outside and making snowmen. i used to love days like this, but today the cold was just unbearable. i was at home on my own, reading a book under what looked like three thick blankets. anyone who saw me right now could've called me crazy, even though it was really that cold.
i was waiting for my boyfriend wonbin to come back from practice, but he texted me saying it could take a while. before putting my phone down i got another message: "i love you, stay warm." his words always made me feel better, even on days like this. i sent him "i love you" back and lied down. i fell asleep not long after.
i woke up hearing noises downstairs. wonbin? i look at my phone to check the time and see that it's already 5pm. i slept for six hours? i take my blankets off and go downstairs to where i heard the sound, only to be met with the best smell: fresh cookies and chocolate milk.
"baby, you're back," wonbin says as he runs towards me to give me a hug. his embrace is very warm, warmer than any other source of heat could ever cause. "i made you cookies and hot chocolate," he says as he drags me to a chair. the smell of the cookies—and also the hot chocolate—was growing stronger as i came closer.
before i can take a bite of one of the cookies, wonbin pulls me away. 'you forgot something,' he says as he pouts. i laugh and peck his lips. 'thanks bin, this is amazing,' i say as i bite into the cookie i'd been holding. he looks at me in awe, and i admire his face for a second, lost in the moment as i totally forget about the dessert in my hand. i move my face closer to his, trying to kiss him again, but then he grabs the cookie out of my hands and sticks it in my mouth. 'enjoy these first,' he says, the biggest smile lighting up his face.
i sigh and continue eating, also taking a sip of the hot chocolate. the warmth of the mug against my hands brings me back to the first winter i'd spent with wonbin.
it was snowing lots, but i didn't pay attention to that; instead, i sat inside, christmas songs filling the room, as i sat on my boyfriend's lap, kissing his lips. it had been my first kiss, and i promised myself to never forget the magic of the moment. he'd also made me hot chocolate that day.
i get snapped back into reality as wonbin puts his hands on mine. 'they're so cold,' he says as he tries warming up my hands with his. i smile at him and nod. 'they've always felt this cold in the winter, it's horrible.' he sighs and lets me put down the mug, then he takes my hands again. 'let me warm them up for you,' he says before he presses soft kisses on both of them and then covers them with his hands once again. after sitting like that for a while, i pulled away to continue finishing what he'd made me.
time passes quickly, and before i know it, we're lying on the couch, watching a christmas movie. wonbin's hand entangled with mine and my head leaning on his shoulder. we stay like that for the rest of the movie, exchanging kisses when the movie gets a bit boring.
it's 8pm, and the movie's finished. it's pitch black outside, the only light coming from the streetlights. wonbin looks at me and asks, 'wanna go for a walk? it's the perfect moment now.' he was right; it's calm, dark, and it's cold enough for the snow to form into a soft layer. we both stand up and take our coats as i go upstairs to grab my favorite scarf and mittens.
we're outside, and the cold is somehow more bearable than i thought it would be. wonbin is by my side, arm interlocking with mine. i can't stop looking at him as i see his face glowing due to because of the lightning. i stand still for a moment, telling wonbin to go ahead as i trace his exact steps that have formed prints in the cushion of the snow. wonbin laughs at my actions, and i giggle. we continue our walk.
arriving back home, i take off my boots, scarf and mittens and head upstairs to the bedroom as wonbin does the same thing. we lie down on the bed, blankets covering both of us as we pull the covers onto us. 'thank you for today,' i say as i peck his lips. he smiles. 'of course,' he says as he moves closer to kiss my lips as well. he then presses his lips to my forehead.
'good night baby,' he says as he wraps his arms around me. i move even closer to him, every inch of my body against his. 'good night bin.'
Can you do one where the reader is the 6th member of cortis when she was suppose to debut in a different but they changed it last minute and therefore she became cold and distance towards the cortis members and even fans would notice it and start saying things about it so their manager made them hang out and forced them to vlog it which made the reader annoyed but then she realizes the cortis members are actually cool to be with
girl 😺 did the cartoon eye rub bcs i wasnt sure if i read this wonderful idea right
note: 1st person fem!reader
“You’ll debut in a different group. We will try something new,” my ass. Couldn’t they have tried this without me- let someone else be the target. Do I really have to spend my days with teenage boys. All day, every day? Might as well lock me up in a tower instead.
Finally, after recording another video I get to be alone. So stupid. I hear the guys talking loudly- like always, on the other side of the closed door. I huff and put on my headphones scrolling through TikTok.
“Would she ever spend a day with us?” Keonho asks while looking at the door. The rest just shrugs. “Maybe she needs more time. Being pulled away from a group and being added to another so close to debut isn’t easy,” James says and Keonho nods.
I come across a stupid clip of the five guys together. Checking the comments, there are loads that keep talking about me. Of course, the only girl in a boy group will get some h- No? Why are they asking where i am in that clip? Why do they seem concerned? Why do they actually want me? And why should I give a shit? I groan, this is too frustrating. I should do anything for the fans but this?
The comments are everywhere, clips, edits, own posts, videos, pictures.. God. None of them knows the heavy effect, they won’t understand.
Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s seen the comments as barely three hours later we got called in. “You’re going to Lotte World together” before the manager could say another syllable, Seonghyeon cut in. “For free?” The manager pauses- duh? “Company treat, like always.” “But?” Seonghyeon prods. “But it has to be filmed, to show fans all six of you have a good bond.” I roll my eyes. Of course they’d let us do this stuff. More like force but okay.
Walking around an amusement park the whole day is already exhausting enough, but with some dudes I don't want to be with is just hell.
"Which one do you wanna go on?" James asks. It stays quiet for a few seconds before I realised the question was pointed at me. "Oh, uhm. Maybe the Gyro Drop?" I don't know. I'm even shocked I answered the question at all. James nods and starts leading the whole group to the attraction as he's the one with the map. Wouldn't trust the others with readint it. And I myself didn't plan on taking part in these activities at all.
Looking up at the Gyro Drop, it's impressive with a height of 70 meters. Keonho looks over at me. "You picked this one because?" I shrug. "I wanted to do it once." He looks up at the tower and back at me. "Couldn't have picked one closer to the ground?" I shake my head no. He's clearly nervous and he's definitly not the only one.
Seonghyeon shakes the safety bars. "Are they supposed to be this loose?" He laughs as some of the others tighten their grip around the leather. Keonho starts singing a random song to get his mind of the 70 meter he will be thrown up into the air.
After getting back down and the safety bars raising, Keonho loudly, and dramatically declares: “thank you god for getting me back on the ground!” The rest laughs- me too. I try my best not to but it’s getting impossible.
Juhoon turns to me; “you broke him.” I nod, kinda confused as to why they suddenly involve me this much. Normally I wouldn’t have said a word yet.
“This one was fun. Which other coasters do you wanna do?” Martin asks, the camera he has been holding the whole time pointed at me now. “I don’t know.. maybe Keonho should pick so he won’t be traumatised this time.” They start laughing while Keonho exclaims loudly “HEY! THIS ONE WAS HIGH- NOT MY FAULT.”
“What about the Conquistador?” Seonghyeon suggests. “You want Keonho dead?” James says with a slight laugh.
“Here,” Martin says and puts a headband with mouse ears on my head. “Something to remember the day by.” I smile and with a slight nod “Thank you.”
“Guys come on, we’re taking group photos,” Juhoon calls out. “In the photo booth?” Martin asks, obviously- six people won’t fit. “We’ll make it work, it’ll be such a funny result,” Keonho calls out.
A day that started against my will wasn’t that bad after all.
this list can change at any moment, if the group requested is NOT in the list i will not write it out
reason for ot6 before you begin;
as a debut stan i’m very sad that seunghan had to leave riize like that. but we have to accept he’s his own artist now and not a part of riize anymore. since i don’t get/watch his content besides the occasional tiktok- it is impossible for me to write him into current content.
i throw some stuff across my room, screaming and crying. tears staining my red hued cheeks. i stop picking up objects and fall down onto my bed, sobbing violently. my hands in my hair, pulling at it as i hunch forward, breath quickening. a bad habit that has only grown over the years.
days, weeks- probably months of keeping all my emotions bottled up. it’s relieving. yet the painful amount of stress won’t disappear.
early mornings to late nights of nothing else but practicing and recording. photoshoots, interviews, content, promotions.. during it all, having to stay strong. keep on a brave face for the members, for the fans.. be the perfect girl they all expect me to be. the perfect girl i’ve been put up to be.
i don’t want to be perfect. i know i’m not. i want to be myself but it’s so hard to be that person when no one allows me to be. no one but him. anton. the one that doesn’t bat an eye when i say something unhinged, when i’m basically bouncing off the walls, when i ramble on and on about a random topic. the one who’s been supporting me no matter what. the one who has took it upon himself to comfort me when needed. the one thats starting to feel like home.
if only he’d be here right now. he’d hold me and tell me everything will be okay and that he’ll always be with me. he’d tell me to stop worrying and- “stop pulling your hair..” a soft voice cuts through my seemingly endless thoughts. i lift my head and my breathing calms down the second i lay eyes on anton.
“didn’t hear you open the door,” i mumble and wipe my eyes. some strands of hair that have been pulled out fall to the ground or stick to my hoodie. he hums and sits down next to me, the old wood creaking. carefully and slow in movements, he starts to pick at my sleeves, getting rid of the hairs. they all slowly fall to the ground, the spot clean as if it hadn’t been filled with strands many times before.
he puts a hand on my back, the warmth spreading through my whole body. the comfort going straight to my heart and then i just break again. tears welling up and hastily rolling down my cheeks like theyre on the run. he pulls me close, my head automatically rests against his chest like every other time he’s held me. i cant help but keep crying. i’m home. home after a two days but it feels like it’s been two centuries.
i open my mouth slightly in an attempt to form a sentence- or a word, which is less difficult at this moment. the only sounds escaping are a few hiccups and sniffles. anton shifts, leaning back against the wall and pulling me comfortably closer. he leans down and rests his head on mine. i sigh, automatically. the sound of his steady heartbeat keeping me chained to earth, although it feels more like heaven.
"don't worry about cleaning up, okay?" i hum in response. of course, he'll take it upon himself to solve this mess. the room that's somehow less messy than my mind and soul. i close my eyes, the only sound i can hear right now is his heartbeat and sot breathing. every other noise that was clear to me before has faded. not even a blast could get me out of this trance-like state.
anton lifts his head and moves his free hand, his fingers combing through my hair without trouble. the action bringing me into a deeper comfort- if that's possible. the darkness in my heart that always builds up when he's not here is starting to get shoved away by the sun. the sun- my sun that anton is.
i let out a sigh, one that contained all the left frustration. no bigger reaction is needed. not now, not when he's here.
"do you mind if i-.." not even having to finish my sentence because he knows what i'm gonna ask. he always says its okay too. "you don't have to ask, you know that." i nod slightly and grab his free hand, not wanting him to leave when i fall asleep. the tension leaves my body fully.
when i open my eyes again, i notice how diferently i'm laying as to how i fell asleep. i move, just slight and immeditatly anton stops me. "sleep more.. it's only been three hours," he says that so carefully, in his soft and gentle tone like i might shatter at any second- like glass that's been dropped multiple times but somehow still hasn't broken yet. and, i really might shatter.
"what time is it?" the sound barely escaping my throat. "6pm," he moves his hand to my back and rubs softly. i hum and close my eyes again, going back to sleep. at least i know i wasn't dreaming before.
Can I request “Feeding My Boyfriend Then Wiping The Spoon Prank” on Cortis?
ty for the request 🖤
Pairing: cortis x gn!reader
Note: kinda ran out of motivation :/ sry
James..
got the man confused asf. it wasn’t a problem eating from the same spoon before so why suddenly? probably thinks back for a whole month as to what he could’ve done wrong 🤨 would only ask if he was sure he didn’t do anything. just a shrug as answer got his brain running laps. keeps staring at the napkin like his eyes are gonna fall out.
“What was that for?” “What was what for?” he raises an eyebrow and grabs the napkin. “This? What was this for?” “That’s a napkin. You use that to wipe stuff.”
would dig his spoon in your cup right after
Juhoon..
would look at you like you just insulted a kitten. would probably look at the spoon he just took a bite from with confusion and inspect it as if expecting to see germs crawling.
“Juhoon..” “hm?” he looks away from the spoon after having halfly zoned out. “Why did you wipe it off?” obviously, not being able to keep up the act- i mean just look at his cute face?? “Was just a prank.” he deadpans. what? a prank? made his mind run through the whole galaxy in less than two seconds for A PRANK?? “A prank?”
Martin..
Blinks once, twice and then picks up your frozen yogurt, holding it out of reach until you give him a valid reason as to why the fuck you wiped the spoon 😒
“Just give it back.” “Only when you tell me why you did that.” Admitting with a huff, “it’s just a stupid prank.” he puts the container back down on the table. “You and your stupid pranks,” he says. “Says you.”
Seonghyeon..
he’d have seen the trend and would just do it too. of course only if you did it first, earning a shocked expression.
“You’re not the only one who scrolls tiktok ya know?” pats your head without looking at you and just keeps enjoying his yoghurt. although after a while he’d pull the same trick just to see your reaction
Keonho..
it’s over. the moment you do that he will lick his spoon and put it in your cup. “keonho!” “don’t act like you suddenly care,” he grins teasingly before taking the bite that was still on your spoon again.
“you should learn to use other topics.” and he just snorts at your open mouthed expression like he didn’t violate germ codes or something ✌️
IN WHICH ── you get caught in a fake dating scandal with Martin, but instead of hate, fans eat it up, so your companies decide to play along to keep the image looking good. PAIRING idol!martin x idol!reader
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4.6k words
Since you arrived at the company building that morning, you'd been doing nothing but sitting in your group's practice room, sprawled across the polished wooden floor chatting with a few of your staff members and back up dancers. the mirrored walls reflected your relaxed posture as you chatted about everything and nothing. The music was still faintly playing from the speaker, but no one was playing attention anymore – everyone was scattered around, laughing about random stuff, phones in hand, stretching or rolling on the floor out of boredom.
now you glanced down at your phone to check the time, the screen illuminating your face. 1:45 pm. your heart dropped slightly. the meeting was at 2:00
“guys, i gotta go” you announced, pushing yourself up from the floor and smoothing down your pants, trying to get the dust off and the wrinkles out. your legs felt a bit stiff from sitting cross legged for so long.
you felt your knees crack up a little, making you groan quietly
“Okay Ynnie!! have fun with your boyfriend!!” Mina, one of your backup dancers who had been there to practice the new choreography earlier, called out with a teasing voice, her grin mischievous
You stopped mid step, slowly turning to look over your shoulder at her. The room went silent for a beat as everyone watched for your reaction. you gave her the dirtiest look you could muster, eyes scanning her up and down with exaggerated judgment. lips curling into an evil little smirk.
“Next dance practice” you said sweetly, “im messing up on purpose so you have to stay late at work” you said, a mischievous giggle escaping your lips.
her jaw dropped “Heyyy!!! you wouldn't–”
“oh yeah, she would” another dancer cut in, laughing
the entire room erupted, all of the dancers groaned dramatically, throwing their hands up in mock despair, while a few other staff members burst out laughing at the exchange.
“yn, please, have mercy on us!” another dancer called out.
“We have lives!” someone else added, which only made you laugh harder.
you giggled, shaking your head, as you grabbed your phone, small bag, jacket and a water bottle “you guys talk too much. I'll see you later”
You waved at them, before closing the practice room door behind you, the laughter fading into the hallway
the hallway was quiet, the muffled sound of music from other practice rooms creating a distant backdrop. you walked toward the elevator at the end of the corridor, your footsteps echoing slightly on the tiled floor. pressing the button, you waited, shifting your weight from one foot to the other.
you pulled out your phone again, scrolling mindlessly through messages and notifications – company messages, emails, unreal texts, even a text from your manager reminding you of the meeting.
you heard the familiar little beep signaling that the elevator had arrived. looking up from your screen, your eyes immediately met with none other than Iroha from illit.
she was one of your friends — not super close due to both of your crazy, conflicting schedules, but still someone you genuinely loved and trusted deeply. her face lit up the moment she recognized you.
“OMG YNNIEEEE!” she practically squealed, her voice filled with genuine excitement. She immediately pulled you into a warm hug the second you stepped into the elevator, her arms wrapping tightly around you.
you hugged her back but couldn't help the slight nervousness creeping up. “unnie, i know i haven't seen you in forever, but gosh, don't be so excited because i can tell you're about to start jumping, and girl, we're in a fucking elevator” you said, trying to sound casual, but your voice had that slight edge to it that only came when you were anxious.
you weren't joking. elevators. one of your biggest fears. you hated them. not only disliked - hated. and an even bigger fear? getting stuck in one. nightmare. especially when you had a meeting you absolutely could not miss in less than fifteen minutes. your palms already felt clammy just thinking about it.
“i won't, i won't” Iroha promised, giggling, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “i mean, i'll try not to” she added in a whisper, but you caught every word.
you immediately reached over and smacked her arm playfully, which sent both of you into a fit of laughter that echoed in the small metal box. for a moment, all the anxiety you had for the meeting melted away.
“still chaotic as ever” you said under your breath, shaking your head “So what are you doing today??” you asked her once you both caught your breath, genuinely curious about what she'd been up to.
“nothing much, tbh. just finished a dance practice, the members left already, but i have vocal lessons in like twenty minutes, so im still stuck here” she explained, leaning against the elevator wall.
“oh, fun” uou nodded
“what about you?” she asked, tilting her head “dance practice too???”
“Nah” you waved your hand “it was actually cancelled today. all the other girls are home, probably napping or something–” you started, then hesitated for just a second. Iroha raised her eyebrow curiously, clearly sensing there was more to the story.
“ohhh, so it's about the dating announcement/rumor, right? with the dude ...the tall one... from... uhh... that group that just debuted a few months ago?” she said, tilting her head slightly, not completely sure she had the details right.
your lips parted, and you hesitated for a split second “yeah, it's um...” you paused, suddenly hit with the weight of uncertainty. you weren't sure if you could tell other idols—even friends — that the whole relationship was completely, utterly fake. the company hasn't said anything yet - that's the whole point of today's meeting, but you were pretty sure tiu weren't allowed to say anything, yet “...complicated, you know?”
Iroha's expression softened immediately, her hand reaching out to touch your arm gently. “yeah, girl, i get you. dating in this industry sucks, and having a relationship get leaked? that's even worse” she said sympathetically. “but hey, as far as i know, fans are actually lowkey loving it, you two are kinda all over the timeline”
"Yeah..." you said slowly, the word feeling heavy in your mouth. “at least we don't have to hide now...” the bitterness crept into your voice despite your best efforts to sound normal.
bitter because this was your reality now. a big, fat lie. you'd have to lie to everyone—your friends, your fans, your family. starting right now, with Iroha, someone you actually cared about.
“not having to hide who you love sounds good... and honestly kind of unreal as an idol” Iroha said wistfully, like she was imagining what that might feel like. “i can't even imagine being that open about something so personal”
someone you love. yeah. funny.
not having to hide who you love — that sounded beautiful in theory. but what if the person you were pretending to love was someone you barely knew? someone your company had picked for marketing strategy reasons?
someone you’d have to smile beside, hold hands with in public, act like you adored, when all you wanted to do was go home and breathe?
“by the wayy” she said snapping back to her usual self “you guys are sooo cute together” Iroha continued, her smile genuine and warm. “but im kind of upset you didn't tell me yourself, you know? i had to find out from the internet like everyone else” she laughed, pretending to be hurt
you forced yourself to laugh along, the sound hollow in your own ears. “you know how it is, girl. ‘If someone finds out before we announce it, you're in big trouble’” you said, deepening your voice dramatically to mock some imaginary company executive.
Iroha opened her mouth to respond when suddenly you heard the beep. eighth floor. your stop.
you quickly glanced at your phone. 1:52pm eight minutes. your time to go
“Girl, i gotta run—meeting time, you know” you said quickly, stepping out of the elevator but not before turning back to give her another quick hug.
“good luck!!! and I'll text you sometime soon so we can actually catch up properly, and hang out okay?” she said into the hug, squeezing you a bit tighter.
“bye bye, Roha, love you!!!” you called out, blowing her an air kiss as you turned to walk away.
“Love you too!!!” her voice echoed behind you, as the elevator doors slit shut
the words made you smile, the nerves in your stomach settling a little.
taking a deep breath, you walked down the hallway toward the meeting room. your shoes echoing softly against the polished floor, footsteps slowing as you approached. standing right outside the door was your manager, Dae(manager kim), scrolling through her phone. when she heard your footsteps, her head lifted, and her expression softened when she saw you.
“Hey, kid” she said warmly, opening her arms slightly.
without hesitation, you walked straight into her embrace, wrapping your arms around her and whispering, “unnie, i really don't want to do this”
“i know, baby, i know” she murmured, her hand gently stroking the back of your head in that comforting way she always did when you were stressed “trust me, i didn't want to agree to this either, but... you know how it works. you know how this company works”
“yeah i know. im not mad at you” you sighed quietly, pulling away from her and trying to compose yourself. you forced your expression into something more neutral, more professional.
“good, cause if i was you, I'd quit” she joked softy, but her eyes stayed warm and full of worry
just as you were about to reply, you heard footsteps approaching from the other end of the hallway, multiple sets of them. Your head turned instinctively.
walking toward you were several staff members you'd seen around the building before but had never actually worked with. and right in the middle of them was a really tall boy. Martin.
You'd done your “research” of course – checked out a few interviews, watched a stage or two, even a few fan interactions. he was good, talented, charming. and a little cringe. especially with fan service. but you know what they say. to be cringe is to be free. and he gotta get that bag somehow
you bowed politely and put on your best smile, the one you'd perfected over years of media training.
he caught your eye, but quickly looked away, adjusting his jacket or sum.
“Heyy, guys!” a man at the front of the group said cheerfully, bowing as he approached. your manager greeted him back professionally, and then he turned his attention to you, extending his hand. “Im cortis's manager. nice to meet you”
you glanced at Dae, and she gave you a small nod of encouragement. turning back to the man, you shook his hand firmly. “nice to meet you too. im Yn” you said politely, keeping that practiced smile plastered on your face even though your jaw was starting to ache.
“yeah, i know!! i mean, newjeans is pretty much taking over the entire industry right now” he said with an enthusiastic laugh
you forced yourself to laugh along, the sound feeling mechanical. “hahaha... thank you”
there was an awkward pause. both managers glanced awkwardly at each other, clearly unsure of how to navigate the tension. Dae looked at you, then at Martin, who had been standing somewhat behind his manager the entire time, hands tucked into his pockets, looking just as uncomfortable as you felt
she cleared her throat. “so um, ynnie, this is Martin—the boy you'll be... working with” she said, her voice stiff and awkward, like she was reading from a script she didn't quite believe in either
you turned to look at him properly for the first time. he was tall—really tall—with blonde hair that fell slightly over his eyes. he looked nervous, his shoulders slightly hunched. when your eyes met, you gave him a small, tentative smile. he returned it, adding a little wave that was almost endearing in how awkward it was.
“um hii” you mentally cursed yourself at how awkward you sound
“hi” he said quietly, his voice softer than in the interviews you watched.
Before anyone could say anything else, the rest of the team arrived: the management team, the PR team, the media representatives and advisors, the company reps, and several people in higher positions within the company. everyone began filing into the meeting room, the atmosphere shifting into something more formal and businesslike.
You sat down next to Dae, trying to keep your posture straight even tho your stomach was in knots. she immediately placed her hand on your thigh under the table, a silent gesture of comfort, like she could feel your nerves radiating through the air
across the table, Martin sat with his team. his manager kept whispering something in his ear. he nodded occasionally, eyes flicking between the screen at the front and the papers in front of him.
“First of all, hello everyone. Im Shin Baehyun” the woman at the head of the table began, standing and bowing slightly. she was one of the company heads(tbh i have no idea what that means), someone whose name you'd heard in passing but had never actually met faceto face. “I'm pretty sure we all know why we're here today, but let's make it lear for the record”
she clicked on a remote, and a presentation named ‘YN x MARTIN – Relationship Management Strategy (public relations brief)’ appeared on the large screen behind her.
your heart sank at the sight of your name next to his, bild and capitalized.
“today we're going to discuss how this relationship is going to work—and by that, i mean public appearances, media interactions, social media posts, carefully planned ‘candid’ moments... essentially, how this is going to look to the public eye. just general presentation to the public eye” her tone was strictly professional.
she gestured towards a man standing beside her
he stood up next, adjusting his glasses. “I'm Lee Jaebae, head of the PR team” he introduced himself with a curt bow. “As we all know the main priority is control. we need fo control the narrative – how the fans precive this and how we can use it to our advantage, without overexposing it. also one of the the most important aspects of this arrangement is how we're going to present and promote this to the public. public perception is everything."
you felt your stomach twist, making you almost sick. you snuck a glance around the room nervously, and your eyes accidentally met Martin's. He was looking at you too, his expression unreadable but tinged with what looked like the same apprehension you were feeling.
he clicked to the next slide – mock photos of ‘couple moments’, fake dating rumors, social media posts
“so here's the plan” Jaebae continued, clicking to the next slide, which showed a detailed timeline. “Both Yn and Martin will take couple like photos together, nothing too explicit at first, but enough to generate buzz – coffe shop dates, late night walk, maybe some flowers, just something simple. these will be posted on your official social media accounts, staggered over the next few weeks to maintain interest”
you swallowed hard. dae's hand squeezed your tight gently
Baehyun jumped in. “you'll also interact at music shows. cheer each other on, hype each other up, but here's the key, not too directly at first. maybe just wave or smile at each other during backstage videos. We need the fans to be curious. we can't give them everything they want immediately. tension, anticipation... that's what keeps people invested. the key is subtlety”
“exactly” Jaebae agreed. “we'll start with small interactions—a glance here, a smile there. Maybe you're caught on camera whispering to each other. Things that make fans go 'wait, did you see that?' and create compilation videos.”
another woman, someone from the media team, spoke up. “We'll also plant some stories with friendly journalists. nothing too obvious, but enough to keep the narrative going. ‘inside sources say they're really happy together’ that kind of thing”
someone from media relations chimed in “but we need to keep it subtle, fans love to ‘detect’ things on their own. the more they think they discovered something themselves, the more they'll believe it”
your manager squeezed your thigh again, a bit tighter this time. you could feel her tension too.
“There will be scheduled ‘dates’ that will conveniently be photographed by dispatch” Jaebae continued. “These need to look natural but will obviously be completely controlled. We'll choose the locations, the timing, even. every detail matters.”
baehyun pulled up another slide showing what looked like a contract. “Both of you will need to sign an NDA specifically about the nature of this arrangement. no one outside this room—and i mean no one—can know this isn't real. only your group members and close, trusted staff, not your families, not your closest friends. Is that understood?”
you felt your throat tighten. you nodded slowly, and across the table, you saw Martin do the same.
they continued talking for what felt like hours—discussing social media strategies, appearance schedules, how to handle interview questions, what to do if fans got too invasive, emergency protocols if the truth somehow leaked. the fluorescent lights overhead seemed to get brighter, more harsh, and you found yourself zoning out, their words becoming a distant buzzing in your ears.
your mind drifted. how did it come to this? Just months ago, you were focused solely on your music, your performances, your members. Now you were sitting in a boardroom, being told exactly how to fake a relationship for the sake of publicity.
you glanced at Martin again. he was staring down at the table, his jaw clenched. maybe he was thinking the same thing.
“so, any questions?” Baehyun finally asked, looking between you and Martin expectantly.
the room fell silent. you wanted to ask a million things. ‘How long will this last?’ ‘What if I can't do this?’ ‘What if people find out?’ ‘What happens to us when this is over?’
but instead, you just shook your head. “No, i understand”
martin cleared his throat quietly. “Me too”
“Perfect” Baehyun said with a satisfied smile, as if you'd just agreed to something wonderful rather than signing away a piece of yourselves. “Then let's make this work. For everyone's benefit”
as the meeting finally wrapped up and people started gathering their things, you felt completely drained, like someone had pulled the plug and all your energy had swirled down the drain. this was your reality now.
as soon as the meeting was done and everyone started picking up their things and leaving, Dae immediately pulled you out of the room, her hand gently but firmly wrapped around your wrist. you didn't resist—you were too drained to do anything but follow her lead. the hallway felt quieter now, almost lightso after the suffocating atmosphere of that boardroom. your footsteps echoed against the floors as you both made your way toward the elevator.
dae pressed the button, and you both stood there in silence for a moment, waiting. you could feel her eyes on you, studying your face, trying to read your expression.
the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. tou stepped inside, and she followed, immediately turning to face you as the doors began to close.
“You good?” she asked, her voice soft but full of worry. her eyebrows were drawn together, and she tilted her head slightly, the way she always did when she was genuinely concerned about you.
You opened your mouth to respond, to tell her that no, you weren't good, that you felt like you'd just signed your life away, that the weight of what you'd agreed to was already pressing down on your chest like a boulder. but before you could get a single word out, a hand suddenly shot between the closing elevator doors, triggering the sensor.
the doors jerked back open with a soft mechanical whir.
martin and his manager stepped inside.
your stomach dropped. Of course. Of course this would happen. you swore under your breath, instantly straightening up.
“dae, I was just looking for you” jiwoo said as he stepped in, giving her a small apologetic but professional smile.
dae's expression shifted immediately, her brows raising slightly in question. “what's up?” she asked, her tone still warm but noticeably more guarded now. you could tell she was already bracing herself for whatever extra responsibility or task they were about to throw at her, at both of you.
“They told me we're the ones who have to make the schedules” Jiwoo explained, pulling out his phone and scrolling through what looked like a very long email. “you know, for when to take photos, when to be seen together, all that kind of stuff. apparently, it's on us to coordinate and report back to the PR team”
Dae let out a long, tired sigh, running a hand through her hair. “Of course it is” she muttered under her breath, though not unkindly. “Alright, yeah, we'll figure it out. Just send me whatever guidelines they gave you, and we'll work out a calendar or something”
“sounds good” Jiwoo said with a nod, already typing something into his phone.
as the two managers started talking logistics, discussing availability, scheduling conflicts, when your group had promotions, when his group had theirs—you found yourself standing there awkwardly, staring down at your shoes. the white sneakers you'd thrown on that morning suddenly seemed like the most interesting thing in the world. You traced the scuff marks with your eyes, counting them, anything to avoid the suffocating awkwardness of this tiny metal box.
but then, almost against your will, you felt your gaze drift upward
and you locked eyes with Martin.
he was standing on the opposite side of the elevator, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his black jacket, shoulders slightly hunched. His blonde hair fell just slightly over his eyes, and for a moment, he looked just as lost as you felt. There was something in his expression—uncertainty, maybe? Discomfort? You weren't sure. But whatever it was, it mirrored exactly what you were feeling.
the silence between you two stretched out, thick and uncomfortable. your brain panicked, and started scrambling for something—anything—to say, some way to break this unbearable tension. well tour brain is against you today, so it choose violence.
and then, like an absolute idiot, you blurted out “so um—can i have your number?”
The words left your mouth before you could stop them. both managers paused mid sentence and turned to look at you.
martin's eyes widened, his expression shifting immediately to one of total confusion and shock. His lips parted slightly, like he was trying to process what you'd just said, and for a horrifying second, you saw the tips of his ears turn red.
Oh no. stupid stupid stupid
your brain immediately went into panic mode. You mentally slapped yourself so hard you were surprised it didn't leave a mark.
“i mean—” you stammered quickly, your hands flying up in a defensive gesture, “we need to have some contact, right? We can't only communicate with each other through our managers. that would be... weird. and inconvenient. so, um, yeah. your number. for, like, coordination purposes...only”
smooth. real smooth.
martin blinked a few times, and then his expression softened, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit, his lips twitched, like he was fighting a tiny smile “ohh” he said quietly, and you caught the faintest hint of relief in his voice. “Yeah, uh, sure. makes sense”
he pulled his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and opening his contacts app before handing it to you. his hands were steady, but you noticed he avoided direct eye contact, his gaze flickering somewhere over your shoulder instead.
you took his phone carefully with trembling fingers, hyper aware of how warm it still was from being in his pocket, and quickly typed in your number. your fingers moved fast, almost too fast, and you had to backspace twice because you mistyped finally, you handed it back to him.
“There” you said, trying to sound casual, even though your heart was still racing from the sheer awkwardness of the last thirty seconds.
“Thanks” Martin replied softly, glancing down at the screen. He saved your contact and then, after a moment's hesitation, sent you a quick text—just a simple 'hey, it's Martin' so you'd have his number too.
your phone buzzed in your pocket, and you pulled it out, saving his contact as well. you stared at his name on your screen for a second longer than necessary. this was real. This was actually happening.
before either of you could say anything else, Jiwoo's voice cut through the air, pulling both of your attention back to the managers.
“so, kids” Jiwoo started, turning slightly to address both you and Martin. His tone was casual, but there was an edge of authority to it that made it clear this wasn't a suggestion—it was an instruction. “Tomorrow, you two have to meet after your individual schedules. Just to take some 'late night walk photos,' you know? nothing too complicated. we're thinking somewhere lowkey but visible— somewhere that is know for being romantic yet private. Like trying to not grab attention, but still do it”
your stomach twisted. tomorrow. already.
Dae glanced at you, her expression apologetic but resigned. “What time are you done tomorrow?” she asked you gently.
You tried to remember your schedule, your mind still foggy from everything that had happened today. “Um... i think around 8pm? we have a recording session for a demo song in the afternoon, and then a fitting, so... yeah, probably around 8”
“i'm done around the same time” Martin spoke up quietly, looking at his manager for confirmation. Jiwoo nodded.
“Perfect” Jiwoo said, clapping his hands together once. “We'll coordinate the exact location tonight and send you both the details. just dress casual—like you're actually going for a walk, not like you're going to a photoshoot. we want it to look natural”
“Natural” you echoed quietly, the word tasting bitter on your tongue.
Dae must have heard the tone in your voice because she reached over and gave your hand a quick, reassuring squeeze.
the elevator dinged softly, signaling that you'd reached the ground floor. the doors slid open, and you all stepped out into the lobby. The late afternoon sunlight was streaming through the glass walls, casting long shadows across the marble floors.
“Alright, we'll be in touch” Jiwoo said, giving Dae a polite nod before glancing at Martin. “Let's go, we've got another meeting in thirty”
Martin looked at you one more time, his expression still unreadable, and gave you a small, awkward wave—just like he had earlier. “Um... see you tomorrow, i guess” he said quietly.
“yeah” you replied, forcing a small smile. “See you tomorrow”
And then he turned and walked away with his manager, his tall frame disappearing through the lobby doors and out into the city beyond.
You stood there for a moment, watching him go, feeling the weight of everything settle even heavier on your shoulders.
Dae put her arm around you gently, guiding you toward the exit. “come on, let's get you home” she said softly.
You nodded wordlessly, letting her lead you out of the building.
tomorrow. late night photos. fake smiles. Pretending.
this was your life now. a big, fat, complicated lie.
Note: rewatching the movie while i thought of this 🤭 each next line is a new part of the movie!
Gyuvin gets fairly easily jumpscared. God, not paying attention and suddenly hearing the Netflix intro sound would have him jump outta his skin.
So sitting next to him while watching The Blair Witch Project.. ear damage.
TBWP isn’t scary persee. But the element of the unknown combined with a new sort of filming at its time.. it’s a masterpiece.
——
Gyuvin starts whining. “This is so boring.” I look over at him and nod. “Yeah, the first part is basically nothing.” And immediately then the screaming starts. Heather losing her mind after finding out Mike threw away the map. “This is where it starts,” I say. He nods. “obviously.”
“Why would he throw it away?” Gyuvin asks while they argue over the compass. “It’s the forest.” He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head.
I turn my head to look at Gyuvin as they come across the sticks bound together. “Well isn’t that fun,” he murmurs and scratches the back of his neck. Then there’s Mike screaming for help before it goes to them planning to sleep.
In the darkness of the night Heather sits up and turns on the camera as they hear a baby scream. Gyuvin, in response, pulls the blanket closer to his chest. That’s when the characters start running frantically. “Are they dumb?” I laugh at his reaction. “Would you have stayed?” He ponders and shakes his head.
He jumps a bit as Mike and Heather start screaming at each other.
“Go back!” Gyuvin says with a grin. “Did you hear that? He said moo!” I burst out laughing. “He said mooove.” Gyuvin nods, “same thing.”
“I think they’re tripping.” I snicker at his words. “This wouldn’t have happened if they just kept the map,” he shakes his head in a disappointing manner.
I rest my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around my waist while Josh is yelling at Heather and Mike yelling back telling him to stop. “Do they think yelling will help?” I shrug.
Josh has disappeared. “He can’t just, have left?” He asks and I shake my head. “At least they’re calmer?” I say and Gyuvin nods in agreement.
Theres distant and loud muffled screams. Gyuvin tenses, his arm around me tightening in grip. “She got him?” I let out a hum as response. And as they keep yelling for Josh, all the screams stopped. It’s gone back to the eerie silence.
As heather finds the twigs bound together with fabric and blood dripping from it, she throws it away.
Now going back to open it up. “Ew is that teeth?” “Yes, mister obvious.” He rolls his eyes and holds me close. “That’s really fucked.”
——
“Why enter a random building!?” I shrug. “They’re stupid.” Once again, he nods in agreement. “They’re not even sticking together.” Gyuvin moves the blanket higher again, also wrapping a part of around me.
The not so subtle yelling attracting the characters to go upstairs. “Leave him to fend for himself!” He says so seriously, making me burst out in laughter. “Now don’t go to the basement!”
The hysterical screams of Heather make me reach for Gyuvin’s hand, holding it tightly as he does the same, knowing the amount of comfort it can bring.
Heather find Mike standing in the corner and the camera drops. That’s where it ends. “THAT’S IT?” I turn off the movie, not wanting to sit through the end credits. “They have a sec-“ Gyuvin cuts me off, holding a finger in front of my face. “Hell. No.”
“I love you and your unbothered attitude towards horror but one of those a week is good enough.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. “Now, let’s watch something normal.”